KARACHI: Former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and former leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Rahila Magsi on Wednesday formally joined the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).

The announcement was made at a GDA meeting held at Raja House with GDA chief Pir Pagara in the chair.

In 2021, Arbab Rahim had joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and became the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Sindh Affairs. On Nov 30, he announced parting ways with the PTI and joining the GDA.

Ms Magsi was elected the district nazim of Tando Allahyar in 2005. She joined the PML-N in 2013 and became a senator on its ticket in 2015.

Alliance forms body to appease like-minded politicians

The meeting was attended among others by Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Dr Fehmida Mirza, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Irfanullah Marwat and Hasnain Mirza.

A GDA spokesperson said that important decisions were taken in the meeting and two separate committees were formed. One to contact political personalities associated with different political parties to join the GDA while the second committee would consult like-minded parties and prepare a plan for the future, he said.

Removal of controversial election officials sought

The meeting participants also expressed no confidence in Nisar Durrani, the Sindh representative in the Election Commission of Pakistan and the district returning officers appointed across the province.

They demanded their immediate removal and warned that strong protests would be launched if the controversial officers were not removed.

The participants alleged that there was no hope of fair and transparent elections in Sindh with these DROs, ROs and Nisar Durrani.

Addressing the meeting, Pir Pagara said that the people of Sindh were in the clutches of a corrupt mafia.“The GDA will play its role to get rid of it,” he said.

He added that the alliance was an alternative platform for the people of the province. “We will do our best to serve the people of the province and for the prosperity of the province.”

It was decided in the meeting that all steps would be taken to prevent rigging in the upcoming elections.

The meeting participants decided to field candidates in all national and provincial assembly constituencies in the province.

It was decided in the meeting that important political personalities in the province would be invited to join the GDA.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2023